Experts and Bias
The secular news magazine Newsweek presents coverage of what secular experts claim may be fake documents among the so-called Dead Sea Scrolls. Based on what these scholars consider a "strong coincidence" they are launching an investigation to develop "methods with which to counter [the] threat" of forgeries being sold to American evangelicals such as Steve Green and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Though the concern may be real, the "flag of fakery" they consider is fragments preserved on the subject of homosexuality drawn from two passages in Leviticus. With texts going back to at least the Septuagint, there is no doubt to these texts being available in the days of the verified scrolls. Leviticus is part of the Torah, the "books of Moses" accepted by both the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The writer of this article did not interview the Seminary to get their response to the investigation, but instead ends the article referencing the words of Job (conveniently not in the fragments):
"But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value." -- Job 13:4.
It is doubtful that this project, which they call the "Lying Pen of Scribes" is designed to protect believing Christians from forgeries. It seems to be an attack on evidence based on modern mores. What Christians consider a miracle, or maybe even a sign, secular scholars see as too good to be true. After spending thousands of dollars on the project, it is likely that their conclusions will be inconclusive.
However, if they do prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Christian community has been defrauded, it will not change the fact that the texts displayed are in the Bible known by Jesus and His disciples. When the investigation is complete, let us hope that Christian scholars will graciously acknowledge the results without wavering in their faith in the Word of God as preserved and passed down in translations and copies dating back to before Christ walked upon the earth. This work is under copyright of the author and should not be used without his permission.